One of the biggest mass participation Olympic distance triathlons in the world, the Mooloolaba Triathlon turns 25 next year. A stalwart on the Australian triathlon calendar since 1993, the 25th edition of the race will carry the added honour of being the Australian Standard Distance Championship.
Held next year from 10-12 March along the picturesque Mooloolaba Esplanade, the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival is recognised as the second largest Olympic Distance Triathlon event in Australia, behind the Noosa triathlon, which last year was named the world’s largest.
Originally operated by USM Events one of Australia’s leading event management companies, in February 2012 USM Events was acquired by IRONMAN brand owner World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) – meaning that the multisport festivals at Noosa, Cairns and Mooloolaba are part of the IRONMAN operation under newly formed entity Wanda Sports.
As the Australian Championship, the Mooloolaba Triathlon will also carry double qualifying points for selection as part of Team Australia at the 2017 Age Group World Champs which in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
“It is fitting that this iconic event will celebrate its 25th birthday with the honour of being an Australian title,” said IRONMAN Oceania Managing Director David Beeche. “The Mooloolaba Triathlon is such an iconic event, and so closely intertwined within the history of triathlon in Australia.”
The Mooloolaba Triathlon is the centrepiece of the three-day Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival, which celebrates the best of the Australian summer lifestyle, at one of the world’s premier beachside resort locations. Mooloolaba will become race six of Triathlon Australia’s eight race qualifying series for the 2017 Age Group World Championship. In 2018 the age group world championship will be hosted on the Gold Coast.
“We’re very proud and excited to be hosting another Australian Championship race in Queensland, and there is none more fitting than the iconic Mooloolaba Triathlon,” said Triathlon Australia CEO Miles Stewart. “Obviously it holds a special place in my heart, and a race I won three times, but it has hosted thousands of Australian athletes since 1993 and grown into the world renowned multi-sport festival it is today.”
Stewart also went on to praise the efforts of the event organisers, IRONMAN Oceania, who have ‘been instrumental in delivering world class events’.
In addition to attracting international and Australian elite sportsmen and women, the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival provides a host of events that include: the Age Group Triathlon, Asics Twilight 5km Run, the Mooloolaba 1km Ocean Swim, Mooloolaba Superkidz Triathlon, Mooloolaba Sport & Lifestyle Expo, ‘plenty of entertainment and much more’.
